The annual 1098T tax form is provided by the University to use in preparing your income tax return. The form is mailed out to students no later than January 31st. Once the form is mailed, students can access the form online by going to heartland.ecsi.net.
Consider going green and having faster access to your 1098T by opting to receive the form electronically. Visit heartland.ecsi.net and sign up for electronic consent before January 1st to take advantage of this option.
1098-T FAQ
What is a 1098-T?
This form is used by eligible educational institutions to report information from their students to the IRS. This reporting is required per the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. The required information includes the student’s name, address, social security number or individual taxpayer identification number, enrollment status, total payments for qualifying tuition and related expenses, and total scholarships/grants received (whether taxable or not). The 1098-T form will assist students in calculating any education tax credit that they may be eligible for under the American Opportunity tax credits.
What if I have not provided my social security number?
The IRS requires colleges and universities to report 1098-T data with or without SSN/ITIN information. If you fail to furnish your SSN or ITIN, the IRS may impose on you a penalty of $50 unless your failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect. LeTourneau University makes multiple attempts during the summer and fall semesters to obtain your SSN/ITIN via mail, email, and phone.
When will this form be mailed to students?
The 1098-T form is required to be provided to each applicable student and must be mailed no later than January 31.
How do I use this information?
LeTourneau University’s sole responsibility regarding the American Opportunity tax credits is to furnish the form to the student and the IRS. It is not responsible for, and is prohibited by law, from giving tax advice. For assistance with using the information reported on the 1098-T, consult a tax advisor or the Internal Revenue Service for guidance.
Can my 1098-T be accessed online?
Yes—you can access your 1098-T at heartland.ecsi.net (https://heartland.ecsi.net).
The website provides the ability for a student to review specific demographic and financial information provided by the school. This secure, login-based portion of the web site requires the user to provide identifying information for login.
Required Information for Login:
Type in the School Name, when prompted. The user will also be asked for First and Last Name, SSN, and the Zip Code that appears on their 1098T. The Zip Code used matches what has been provided by the student as their permanent mailing address in the University’s system.
Accessing Your Record:
Next to the 1098T line item, on the far right side, click the plus sign. This reveals some details; however, to obtain the actual 1098T form, click on View/Print Statement to the far right side of the page (you may need to disable the pop-up blocker).
Why is box 2 empty?
You will no longer see any amounts in Box 2 (amounts billed for qualified tuition and related expenses) on your 1098T form. You will, however, see an amount in Box 1 (payments received for qualified tuition and related expenses). Based on a report that determined a significant amount of errors occurring related to educational tax credits, Congress and the IRS have eliminated the option for colleges and universities to report based on the “amounts billed”. Colleges and universities are now required to report based on the “amounts paid for qualified tuition and related expenses”. This will help eliminate further confusion and inaccuracies. The change went into effect for the 2018 tax year. Prior year reports will not be changed.
What are qualified tuition and related expenses?
Qualified tuition and related expenses are defined by the IRS as “tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance.” In general, not all charges incurred during a calendar year will meet IRS requirements.
How is the amount in Box 1 calculated?
Box 1 is the total of all payments from any source, minus scholarships, grants, third party payments, and refunds. Box 1 cannot exceed the amount of qualified tuition and related expenses. Therefore, payments reported in Box 1 for the calendar year will not always match the total amount of payments made on your student account.
Is the cost of textbooks included in box 2?
No, the cost of books is not a qualified expense, because the books are not required to be paid to the University as a condition of the student’s enrollment.
Who do I contact if I have questions about how the totals for each box were calculated?
Any additional questions concerning how the totals for each box were calculated can be directed to the Student Accounts office. They can be contacted by phone at 800-388-5327 ext 4140 or by email at StudentAccounts@letu.edu. If you have further questions about these changes or other specific tax related questions, please contact your tax professional.
